Women-only rooms in designer Bella Sky Comwell hotel ruled 'unlawful' after men sue for discrimination


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Women-only rooms in a designer hotel have been ruled 'unlawful' after two men sued the property for discrimination.

Scandinavia's Bella Sky Comwell opened in 2011, reserving 20 suites on the Bella Donna floor exclusively for female guests.

However, two men and the Danish Board of Equal Treatment sued the Copenhagen hotel – despite the complainants never visiting the hotel - nor did the resort receive any complaints from guests over the women-only rooms.

Court ruling: The Hotel Bella Sky Comwell in Copenhagen was told its women-only rooms were unlawful

Court ruling: The Hotel Bella Sky Comwell in Copenhagen was told its women-only rooms were unlawful

For women only: The Bella Sky rooms, which have been ruled unlawful, will be open to male guests

For women only: The Bella Sky rooms, which have been ruled unlawful, will be open to male guests

After a three-year legal battle, during which the hotel owners Bella Centre A/S appealed the case to the High Court, a verdict was this week handed down, ruling the Bella Donna rooms are 'gender discrimination' and upheld them as unlawful.

The 17th-floor rooms, which boast queen-size beds, lounge chairs, cosmetics and an LED mirror, are  decorated with soft furnishings to appeal to the 'classic' and 'modern' women.

 

Only guests and staff are granted access to the floor in the hotel, which has 812 rooms.

Hotel CEO Allan Agerholm said: 'We had, of course, hoped to win the case, since, in our opinion, we do not discriminate the opposite sex, since the same product in the same high quality is available for men in our remaining rooms. 

'We were of the opinion that a hotel should be allowed to differentiate between guests and between the sexes, as long as we do not put them at a disadvantage.'

Pretty destination: The waterfront of Nyhavn, Copenhagen, near to the hotel

Pretty destination: The waterfront of Nyhavn, Copenhagen, near to the hotel

On its website, Bella Sky says of the Bella Donna rooms: 'The 20 rooms feature a modern design, which is based on a Nordic theme with clear references to the building's architecture and natural light. 

'White surfaces and white-stained ash combined with furniture in classic, organic soft shapes and colours. The rooms are welcoming, and the textiles and soft furnishings chosen to appeal to both the "classic" and "modern" woman.

'The furniture includes Hästens queen-size beds, Arne Jacobsen lamps, Bang & Olufsen flat screen LED TVs, Vitra lounge chairs as well as marble bedside tables and desks from Hay.

'Only guests with key cards and hotel staff are allowed to enter the 17th floor. Moreover, there is a 24-hour security, surveillance of the hotel area and door chain on all guest room doors in the hotel.'

Agerholm added: 'Enough resources, both public and private, have already been wasted on what in our opinion is a trivial matter, which is based on a complaint from two people, who have never visited our hotel, just as we have never registered any interest from male guests to stay on the Bella Donna floor.'

Since the ruling, men and women will be allowed to book into the 20 rooms at the hotel.
 



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